On Friday, the Dodgers made a move that could quietly reshape a bullpen elsewhere in the league. Left-hander Anthony Banda was designated for assignment, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Ben Rortvedt, who was claimed off waivers.
The DFA kicks off a seven-day window for the Dodgers to trade Banda, outright him to the minors, or release him. And while nothing’s guaranteed, there’s a strong sense around the league that the Dodgers won’t have to wait long for a suitor. Lefty relievers who can get outs and don’t break the bank are always in demand - and Banda fits that bill.
Banda, who came over from the Guardians in a mid-May 2024 trade, didn’t waste any time making an impact in L.A. Just two days after the deal, he was on the mound - and by season’s end, he was a key piece of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
He delivered 49.2 innings with a 3.08 ERA, striking out nearly 24% of the batters he faced while keeping walks in check at 8.6%. He was part of the group the Dodgers affectionately dubbed the “Bullpen Dogs,” a core that helped power the team to a World Series title in 2024.
In 2025, Banda remained a fixture in the bullpen, leading the team with 71 appearances. But the numbers started to slip.
His FIP jumped from 3.67 to 4.52, his strikeout rate dipped slightly, and his walk rate climbed by four percentage points. Still, he remained a tough matchup for left-handed hitters, holding them to a stingy .153 average and a .496 OPS.
Righties, however, had more success, hitting .229 with a .773 OPS - a gap that likely played a role in his slide down the depth chart.
With the emergence of Justin Wrobleski and Jack Dreyer, plus the presence of Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia in high-leverage roles, Banda found himself squeezed out. The Dodgers also added another lefty, Ronan Kopp, to the 40-man roster this offseason - further crowding the bullpen picture.
The issue wasn’t just performance - it was roster flexibility. Banda is out of minor league options, meaning the Dodgers would’ve had to keep him on the 26-man roster all season. Carrying five left-handers in the bullpen isn’t something most teams - even one as deep as the Dodgers - are built to do.
Still, Banda’s track record speaks for itself. Across 114.2 innings in Dodger blue, he posted a 3.14 ERA and showed he can be a reliable arm when used in the right matchups. He signed a one-year, $1.625 million deal earlier this offseason to avoid arbitration, and he remains under team control through the end of the 2026 season.
If he’s claimed off waivers, the new team picks up that contract in full. If he’s traded, the Dodgers could theoretically eat some of the salary - but at this price point, that’s unlikely.
Banda may not be front-page news, but for a team looking to shore up its bullpen with a proven lefty who can still get big outs, he could be a valuable addition. Don’t be surprised if he lands in a spot where he’s asked to handle meaningful innings again.